September tree planting at Rameka, 2025

It was a busy ole week at Rameka at the start of September, with a bunch of keen Wellingtonians joined by some equally sharp Nelsonites and a sprinkle of Canterbrians putting in the good yards.

A lot was done to restore nature and then enjoy some time with it before re-entering the ‘real world’ (sigh).

The hardest part was carrying in plants and tools to the chosen planting site across the stream and up the Odyssey.

Andrew Scott and Grant Fraser follow Charlie across the stream with a barrow load of plants. They make it look easy, but rest assured, it was no mean feat.

Paul Kilgour and Ricky Ward stake the seedlings planted between huge clumps of dead grass.

The base of the historic track required some TLC after a wicked storm earlier in winter had dropped about 16 pine trees across it. The fallen limbs were diced and dragged out of the way, and their root balls have become a series of dippers, meanwhile, Richard and Tony started working on widening some tight switchbacks. And before you knew it, the track was beginning to flow again.

And then it was onto the barberry.

Murray cutting back barberry at last year’s planting site. In all, we cut back around 50% of the barberry stems to let in more light. Very satisfying.

5 switchbacks were increased to 2.5 metre radius.
400 climax species were planted.
2,000 barberry stems cut.
1 Farewell Spit was walked.

Thanks to Andrew, Alison, Bronnie, Charlie, Corrine, Fiona, Grant, Jonathan, Karen, Marie, Murray, Nicole, Paul, Richard, Ricky, Tony, Vicky and whoever we missed.

Rameka is looking better than ever. The trees are thriving, and the tracks are going to be great once they have dried out from winter.

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